Electrode for electric storage device and electric storage device

ABSTRACT

An electrode is used for an electric storage device that includes plural electrodes that are stacked such that an ion-conductive layer is disposed between each pair of the electrodes. Each of the plural electrodes includes a current collector, and an electrode layer, formed on the current collector, which contains an active material. The configuration of the electrode layer (for example, the amount of the active material) varies according to the position in the electrode layer such that a current density in a first region of the electrode, where heat radiation performance is lower than the heat radiation performance in a second region of the electrode, is lower than the current density in the second region of the electrode.

This is a 371 national phase application of PCT/IB2007/002398 filed 22Aug. 2007, claiming priority to Japanese Patent Applications No. 2006-229359 filed 25 Aug. 2006, and No. 2007-038881 filed 20 Feb. 2007,respectively, the contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an electrode for an electric storage device,which is used in an electric storage device such as a secondary batteryor a capacitor, and an electric storage device that includes theelectrode for an electric storage device.

2. Description of the Related Art

A secondary battery is widely used as a power source for a portableelectronic device such as a laptop computer, or a cellular phone. Thesecondary battery is also used as a power source that provides power foran electric vehicle and the like. To suppress deterioration of theperformance of the secondary battery, various proposals are made.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-11660 (JP-A-2005-11660)describes an electrode for a secondary battery. In the electrode for asecondary battery, plural small cells, which serve as electrode layers,are formed on a current collector, which serves as a substrate, toreduce thermal stress due to a change in the temperature in thesecondary battery.

The publication No. 2005-11660 (for example, FIGS. 1, 2, and 11)describes that the amount of a conductive agent varies among the pluralsmall cells formed on the current collector so that temperature isuniform in the electrode for a secondary battery. More specifically, theamount of the conductive agent contained in the small cell positioned inthe center portion of the current collector is smallest, and the amountof the conductive agent contained in the small cell positioned in theend portion of the current collector is largest.

However, in the electrode for a secondary battery described in thepublication No. 2005-11660, there are regions where the small cells areformed, and regions where the small cells are not formed, on the surfaceof the current collector. With this configuration, because electriccurrent does not flow in the regions where the small cells are notformed, the energy efficiency of the secondary battery decreases.

Also, the area of each small cell is extremely small as compared to thearea of the current collector. Therefore, the small cells are likely toseparate from the current collector, for example, in a process ofmanufacturing the electrode for a secondary battery, or in a process ofdisposing the secondary battery that includes the electrode for asecondary battery. When the plural small cells are formed on the currentcollector, the electrode for a secondary battery is easily bent.However, the small cells are likely to separate from the currentcollector due to stress when the electrode for a secondary battery isbent.

In the configuration where the amount of the conductive agent variesamong the small cells so that the resistance value varies among thesmall cells, the resistance value is uniform in each small cell.Therefore, when the temperature varies in the region where each smallcell is formed, it is not possible to suppress the variation in thetemperature in the region.

When the amount of the conductive agent varies among the small cells,and the amount of an active material is substantially uniform in all thesmall cells, part of the active material is not used forcharging/discharging of the secondary battery. That is, in the smallcell that contains a small amount of the conductive agent, all theactive material contained in the small cell may not be used forcharging/discharging of the secondary battery. The raw material of theactive material is relatively expensive. Therefore, if part of theactive material is not used for charging/discharging of the secondarybattery, the cost of the electrode for a secondary battery is increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an electrode for an electric storage device, inwhich separation of an electrode layer from a current collector issuppressed, and variation in temperature in the surface of an electrodeis suppressed. The invention also provides an electric storage devicethat includes the electrode for an electric storage device.

A first aspect of the invention relates an electrode used for anelectric storage device that includes plural electrodes that are stackedsuch that an ion-conductive layer is disposed between each pair of theelectrodes. The electrode includes a current collector; and an electrodelayer, formed on the current collector, which contains an activematerial. The configuration of the electrode layer varies according to aposition in the electrode layer such that a current density in a firstregion of the electrode, where heat radiation performance is lower thanthe heat radiation performance in a second region of the electrode, islower than the current density in the second region of the electrode.

The amount of the active material in the electrode layer may varyaccording to the position in the electrode layer. For example, theamount of the active material in a region of the electrode layer, whichis positioned in a center portion of the electrode, may be smaller thanthe amount of the active material in a region of the electrode layer,which is positioned in an end portion of the electrode. In theconfiguration where the plural electrodes are stacked, the amount of theactive material in the region of the electrode layer, which ispositioned in the center portion of the electrode, may be smaller thanthe amount of the active material in the region of the electrode layer,which is positioned in the end portion of the electrode, in twodirections orthogonal to each other in the surface of each electrode(for example, in an X direction and a Y direction in the embodimentsdescribed later).

More specifically, the thickness of a region of the electrode layer,which is positioned in a center portion of the electrode, may be smallerthan the thickness of a region of the electrode layer, which ispositioned in an end portion of the electrode. The thickness of theelectrode layer decreases continuously or in a stepwise manner, from anend portion of the electrode toward a center portion of the electrode.The density of the active material may be substantially uniform in theelectrode layer.

Also, the density of the active material in a region of the electrodelayer, which is positioned in a center portion of the electrode, may belower than the density of the active material in a region of theelectrode layer, which is positioned in an end portion of the electrode.The density of the active material may decrease continuously or in astepwise manner, from an end portion of the electrode toward a centerportion of the electrode. The electrode layer may have a substantiallyuniform thickness.

Further, the particle diameter of the active material in the electrodelayer may vary according to the position in the electrode layer. Forexample, the particle diameter of the active material in a region of theelectrode layer, which is positioned in a center portion of theelectrode, may be larger than the particle diameter of the activematerial in a region of the electrode layer, which is positioned in anend portion of the electrode. When the electrode layer contains aconductive agent, the density of the conductive agent in the electrodelayer varies according to the position in the electrode layer.

When the electrode layer contains a solid electrolyte, the density ofthe solid electrolyte in the electrode layer may vary according to theposition in the electrode layer. Further, when the electrode layercontains plural solid electrolytes made of raw materials different fromeach other, a mixing ratio between the plural solid electrolytes in theelectrode layer may vary according to the position in the electrodelayer.

In an electric storage device according to the first aspect of theinvention, the above-described electrode may be used as at least one ofa positive electrode and a negative electrode.

When the above-described electrode for an electric storage device, whichincludes the electrode layer whose thickness varies, is used, and anion-conductive layer contacts the electrode, the thickness of a regionof the ion-conductive layer, which faces the center portion of theelectrode, may be larger than the thickness of a region of theion-conductive layer, which faces the end portion of the electrode. Asthe ion-conductive layer, a polymer solid electrolyte or an inorganicsolid electrolyte may be used.

A second aspect of the invention relates to an electric storage devicethat includes plural electrodes that are stacked such that anion-conductive layer is disposed between each pair of the electrodes.Each of the plural electrodes includes a current collector, and anelectrode layer, formed on the current collector, which contains anactive material. The amount of the active material varies among theplural electrodes such that a current density in the electrodes disposedin a center portion and/or an outer portion of the electric storagedevice is lower than the current density in the electrode disposed inanother portion of the electric storage device.

The amount of the active material may vary according to the position inthe electrode layer in each of the plural electrodes such that thecurrent density in a first region of each of the plural electrodes,where heat radiation performance is lower than the heat radiationperformance in a second region of each of the plural electrodes, islower than the current density in the second region of each of theplural electrodes.

An electrode used for an electric storage device that includes pluralelectrodes that are stacked such that an ion-conductive layer isdisposed between each pair of the electrodes may include a currentcollector, and an electrode layer, formed on the current collector,which contains an active material. A raw material of the active materialor a mixing ratio (a volume ratio or a weight ratio) between plural rawmaterials that constitute the active material may vary according to theposition in the electrode layer such that a current density in a firstregion of the electrode, where heat radiation performance is lower thanthe heat radiation performance in a second region of the electrode, islower than the current density in the second region of the electrode.

A third aspect of the invention relates to an electric storage devicethat includes plural electrodes and plural ion-conductive layers thatare stacked such that each of the plural ion-conductive layers isdisposed between a pair of the electrodes among the plural electrodes.Each of the plural electrodes includes a current collector, and anelectrode layer, formed on the current collector, which contains anactive material. A first electrode among the plural electrodes isdisposed in a position where heat radiation performance is lower thanthe heat radiation performance in a position where a second electrodeamong the plural electrodes is disposed, in a stacking direction inwhich the plural electrodes are stacked in the electric storage device.For example, the first electrode is positioned in a center portion ofthe electric storage device in the stacking direction. The configurationof the electrode layer in the first electrode differs from theconfiguration of the electrode layer in the second electrode such that aresistance value in the first electrode is larger than the resistancevalue in the second electrode.

The particle diameter of the active material in the electrode layer inthe first electrode may be larger than the particle diameter of theactive material in the electrode layer in the second electrode. When theelectrode layer in each of the plural electrodes contains a conductiveagent, the density of the conductive agent in the electrode layer in thefirst electrode may be lower than the density of the conductive agent inthe electrode layer in the second electrode.

Further, when the electrode layer in each of the plural electrodescontains a solid electrolyte, the density of the solid electrolyte inthe electrode layer in the first electrode may be lower than the densityof the solid electrolyte in the electrode layer in the second electrode,or a raw material of the solid electrolyte in the electrode layer in thefirst electrode may differ from the raw material of the solidelectrolyte in the electrode layer in the second electrode. When theelectrode layer in each of the plural electrodes contains plural solidelectrolytes made of raw materials different from each other, a mixingratio between the plural solid electrolytes in the electrode layer inthe first electrode may differ from the mixing ratio between the pluralsolid electrolytes in the electrode layer in the second electrode. Inthis case, an ion conductivity in the electrode layer in the firstelectrode may be lower than the ion conductivity in the electrode layerin the second electrode.

According to the above aspects of the invention, the configuration ofthe electrode layer (more specifically, for example, the amount of theactive material in the electrode layer) may vary such that the currentdensity in the region of the electrode, where the heat radiationperformance is lower than the heat radiation performance in the otherregion of the electrode, is lower than the current density in the otherregion of the electrode. This suppresses the variation in thetemperature in the surface of the electrode.

Because the amount of the active material in the electrode layer varies,the variation in the temperature is suppressed. Therefore, the smallelectrode layers (electrode layers whose areas are small, i.e., smallcells) need not be used, unlike the electrode described in thepublication No. 2005-11660. That is, according to the above aspects ofthe invention, it is possible to increase the area of the currentcollector, on which the electrode layer is formed. Therefore, the energyefficiency of the electric storage device is improved, and separation ofthe electrode layer from the current collector is suppressed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and further objects, features and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from the following description of exampleembodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein likenumerals are used to represent like elements and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows the relation between positions in an electrode, and thethickness of an electrode layer in a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a lateral view of a bipolar battery in the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing temperature distribution according to aposition in the electrode;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a support structure for thebipolar battery in the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows the relation between positions in an electrode and thethickness of an electrode layer in a modified example of the firstembodiment;

FIG. 6 is a lateral view of a bipolar battery in the modified example ofthe first embodiment;

FIG. 7 shows the relation between positions in an electrode and thedensity of an active material in a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a lateral view of a bipolar battery in the second embodiment;

FIG. 9 shows the relation between positions in the electrode, and theparticle diameter of the active material;

FIGS. 10A to 10E show the relations between positions in the stackingdirection of the bipolar battery, and temperature, a voltage value, aninput/output value, and the particle diameter of the active material inthe electrode layer;

FIG. 11 shows the relation between positions in the electrode and thedensity of a conductive agent in the electrode layer;

FIGS. 12A to 12E show relations between the positions in the stackingdirection of the bipolar battery, and the temperature, the voltagevalue, the input/output value, and the density of the conductive agentin the electrode layer;

FIG. 13 shows the relation between the positions in the electrode andthe density of a solid electrolyte in the electrode layer; and

FIGS. 14A to 14E show the relations between the positions in thestacking direction of the bipolar battery, and the temperature, thevoltage value, the input/output value, and the density of the solidelectrolyte in the electrode layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described.

[First Embodiment]

A bipolar battery, which is an electric storage device according to afirst embodiment of the invention, will be described with reference toFIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 1 shows a front view of a bipolar electrode thatis used in a bipolar battery according to the embodiment, and diagramsshowing the relation between positions in the bipolar electrode, and thethickness of an electrode layer. FIG. 2 shows a lateral view of aportion of the bipolar battery that has a structure in which the bipolarelectrodes are stacked.

In the bipolar electrode, a positive electrode layer is formed on onesurface of a current collector, and a negative electrode layer is formedon the other surface of the current collector. FIG. 1 shows the onesurface of the bipolar electrode (i.e., the surface on which thepositive electrode layer is formed).

In the bipolar electrode according to the embodiment, the positiveelectrode layer and the negative electrode layer have the sameconfiguration.

Although a bipolar secondary battery will be described in the followingembodiment, the invention may be applied to a secondary battery otherthan the bipolar secondary battery. In the secondary battery other thanthe bipolar secondary battery, an electrode, in which the same electrodelayer (the positive electrode layer or the negative electrode layer) isformed on each of both surfaces of the current collector, is used, or anelectrode, in which the electrode layer is formed on only one surface ofthe current collector, is used.

Further, although the secondary battery will be described in thefollowing embodiment, the invention may be applied to a stackedcapacitor (an electric double layer capacitor) that is the electricstorage device. In the stacked capacitor, plural positive electrodes andnegative electrodes are alternately stacked such that a separator isdisposed between each pair of the positive electrode and the negativeelectrode. In the stacked capacitor, for example, an aluminum foil maybe used as the current collector, activated carbon may be used as apositive electrode active material and a negative electrode activematerial, and a porous membrane made of polyethylene may be used as theseparator.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the bipolar electrode 1 includes a currentcollector 11 that serves as a substrate. A positive electrode layer 12is formed on one surface (X-Y flat surface) of the current collector 11.A negative electrode layer 13 is formed on the other surface of thecurrent collector 11 (refer to FIG. 2).

The current collector 11 may be formed using an aluminum foil, or pluralmetals (alloy). The current collector 11 may be formed by coating thesurface of metal with aluminum.

Instead of the bipolar electrode, an electrode that includes a so-calledcomposite current collector may be used. The composite current collectoris formed by attaching plural metal foils together. When the compositecurrent collector is used, aluminum and the like may be used as the rawmaterials of the current collector of the positive electrode, andnickel, copper, and the like may be used as the raw materials of thecurrent collector of the negative electrode. In the composite currentcollector, the current collector of the positive electrode may directlycontact the current collector of the negative electrode, or a conductivelayer may be provided between the current collector of the positiveelectrode and the current collector of the negative electrode.

Each of the electrode layers 12 and 13 contains the active material, aconductive agent, an electrolyte (for example, a solid electrolyte), anadditive agent, and the like, according to whether the electrode layeris the positive electrode layer or the negative electrode layer. As theraw materials that constitute each of the electrode layers 12 and 13,known materials may be used.

For example, in a nickel-hydrogen battery, nickel oxide may be used asthe active material of the positive electrode layer 12, and hydrogenstoring alloy such as NmNi_((5-x-y-z))Al_(x)Mn_(y)Co_(z) (Nm: mischmetal) may be used as the active material of the negative electrodelayer 13. In a lithium secondary battery, lithium-transition metalcomposite oxide may be used as the active material of the positiveelectrode layer 12, and carbon may be used as the active material of thenegative electrode layer 13. Acetylene black, carbon black, graphite,carbon fiber, or carbon nanotube may be used as the conductive agent.

The electrode layers 12 and 13 may be formed on the current collector 11using, for example, an ink-jet method.

In the X direction in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the thickness of each of theelectrode layers 12 and 13 (i.e., the length of each of the electrodelayers 12 and 13 in the Z direction) is smallest in a region positionedin the center portion of the bipolar electrode 1. The thickness of eachof the electrode layers 12 and 13 continuously increases from the centerportion of the bipolar electrode 1 toward each outer portion of thebipolar electrode 1. In the Y direction in FIG. 1 as well, the thicknessof each of the electrode layers 12 and 13 is smallest in a regionpositioned in the center portion of the bipolar electrode 1. Thethickness of each of the electrode layers 12 and 13 continuouslyincreases from the center portion of the bipolar electrode 1 toward eachouter portion of the bipolar electrode 1. That is, the surface of eachof the electrode layers 12 and 13 (the surface that contacts anion-conductive layer 14 described later) has the surface that has aconcave shape (i.e., the surface that has a curvature).

The thickness of each of the electrode layers 12 and 13 may be set basedon the temperature distribution in a conventional bipolar electrode(i.e., an electrode in which an electrode layer having a substantiallyuniform thickness is formed on the surface of a current collector). FIG.3 shows the relation between the positions and temperature in thebipolar electrode. In FIG. 3, the vertical axis indicates thetemperature in the bipolar electrode. The horizontal axis indicates thepositions in the bipolar electrode in the X direction (or the Ydirection).

In FIG. 3, the dotted line indicates a temperature distribution curve Cwhen the conventional bipolar electrode is used. As shown by thetemperature distribution curve C, the temperature is highest in thecenter portion of the bipolar electrode, and the temperature decreasestoward each outer portion of the bipolar electrode. That is, becauseheat tends to be confined in the center portion of the bipolarelectrode, and heat transfer to the outside of the bipolar electrode islow (heat radiation performance is low) in the center portion of thebipolar electrode, the temperature in the center portion is higher thanthe temperature in the other portion.

When the temperature varies in the bipolar electrode as shown by thetemperature distribution curve C, the performance of the bipolar batteryis likely to deteriorate.

In the configuration described in Japanese Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2005-11660 (JP-A-2005-11660), that is, in theconfiguration in which plural small cells, which serve as the electrodelayers, are formed in a matrix manner or the like, the temperaturedistribution is substantially the same as the temperature distributionshown by the temperature distribution curve C. That is, the temperaturein the center portion of the electrode is higher than the temperature ineach outer portion of the electrode.

Accordingly, in the embodiment, the thickness of the region of each ofthe electrode layers 12 and 13, which is positioned in the centerportion of the bipolar electrode, is smaller than the thickness of theregion positioned in the other portion of the bipolar electrode. In theembodiment, the density of the active material is substantially uniformin all regions of each of the electrode layers 12 and 13. Therefore, bydecreasing the thickness of the region of each of the electrode layers12 and 13, which is positioned in the center portion of the bipolarelectrode, the amount of the active material is decreased in the regionwhose thickness is decreased.

By decreasing the amount of the active material, a current density inthe bipolar electrode is decreased. This suppresses heat generationcaused by charging/discharging of the bipolar battery. By suppressingthe heat generation in the center portion of the bipolar electrode, thevariation in the temperature in the bipolar electrode is suppressed asdescribed later.

The thickness of each of the electrode layers 12 and 13 may be zero inthe center portion of the bipolar electrode 1.

When the bipolar electrode 1 according to the embodiment is used, thetemperature distribution curve matches the curve A shown by the dashedline in FIG. 3 in the initial phase of the operation of the bipolarelectrode 1. Because the thickness of the region of each of theelectrode layers 12 and 13, which is positioned in the center portion ofthe bipolar electrode 1, is smaller than the thickness of the regionpositioned in each outer portion of the bipolar electrode 1, thetemperature in the center portion may be lower than the temperature ineach outer portion in the initial phase of the operation.

However, as the time elapses, the curve that shows the temperaturedistribution in the bipolar electrode is changed from the curve A shownby the dashed line to the curve B shown by the solid line.

Because the heat radiation performance in the center portion of thebipolar electrode 1 is lower than the heat radiation performance in theother portion of the bipolar electrode 1, the temperature in the centerportion gradually increases. Accordingly, the thickness of the region ofeach of the electrode layers 12 and 13, which is positioned in thecenter portion of the bipolar electrode 1, is set in advance taking intoaccount the increase in the temperature. Thus, the temperature is madesubstantially uniform in the entire bipolar electrode 1, as shown by thetemperature distribution curve B in FIG. 3. When the bipolar batteryaccording to the embodiment is actually used, it is preferable to usethe bipolar battery when the temperature distribution curve matches thesolid curve B in FIG. 3.

The ion-conductive layer 14 is formed on each of the electrode layers 12and 13 in the bipolar electrode 1 such that the ion conductive layer 14contacts each of the electrode layers 12 and 13. That is, in the bipolarbattery that has the stacking structure, the ion-conductive layer 14 isdisposed between the electrode layers 12 and 13.

As the ion-conductive layer 14, a polymer solid electrolyte that has anion conductivity (for example, polyethylene oxide, or polypropyleneoxide), or an inorganic solid electrolyte that has an ion conductivity(for example, lithium nitride, halide, oxoacid salt, or phosphorussulfide) may be used. In the electrode that is used in a battery otherthan the bipolar battery, a polymer gel electrolyte may be used as theion-conductive layer.

In the embodiment, the thickness of the ion-conductive layer 14 (i.e.,the length of the ion-conductive layer 14 in the Z direction in FIG. 2)is largest in a region that faces the center portion of the bipolarelectrode 1. The thickness of the ion-conductive layer 14 graduallydecreases toward each outer portion of the bipolar electrode 1.

As described above, in the embodiment, the thickness of each of theelectrode layers 12 and 13 increases from the center portion toward eachouter portion. Therefore, if an ion-conductive layer (particularly, asolid electrolyte layer) that has a substantially uniform thickness(including manufacturing tolerance) is used, a portion of theion-conductive layer 14 does not contact either of the electrode layers12 and 13. Accordingly, the thickness of the ion-conductive layer 14 isset in the above-described manner so that the entire surface of theion-conductive layer 14 contacts each of the electrode layers 12 and 13.Thus, intervals between the bipolar electrodes 1 (current collectors 1)in a stacking direction in which the bipolar electrodes 1 are stacked(i.e., in the Z direction in FIG. 2) are made substantially uniform(when manufacturing tolerance is taken into account).

In the bipolar battery according to the embodiment, a bipolar battery100 is supported by support members 200 disposed on both sides of thebipolar battery 100 (in the stacking direction in which the bipolarelectrodes 1 are stacked) as shown in FIG. 4, mainly to suppress heatexpansion in the bipolar electrode 1. More specifically, the outerportions of the bipolar battery 100 are supported by the support members200, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 4.

With this configuration, heat expansion is suppressed in each outerportion of the bipolar battery 100. However, heat expansion is notsuppressed in the center portion of the bipolar battery 100. Thus, onlythe center portion of the bipolar battery 100 may be deformed due to theheat expansion.

By using the bipolar electrode 1 according to the embodiment, thevariation in the temperature in the bipolar electrode 1 is suppressed,and therefore, the heat expansion is suppressed in the center portion ofthe bipolar battery 100. Therefore, even if the structure shown in FIG.4 is employed, it is possible to avoid a situation where only the centerportion of the bipolar battery 10 is deformed due to the heat expansion.

Also, in the embodiment, each of the electrode layers 12 and 13 isformed on the entire surface of the current collector 11. Therefore, ascompared to the configuration where the plural small cells (electrodelayers) are formed on the current collector as described in thepublication No. 2005-11660, the electrode layers 12 and 13 are easilyformed on the current collector 11, and separation of the electrodelayers 12 and 13 from the current collector 11 is suppressed. That is,in the embodiment, because the amount of the active material in each ofthe electrode layers 12 and 13 varies, the size of each of the electrodelayers 12 and 13 does not need to be reduced, unlike the small cellsdescribed in the publication No. 2005-11660. Thus, it is possible toincrease the area of the current collector 11, on which each of theelectrode layers 12 and 13 is formed.

By forming each of the electrode layers 12 and 13 on the entire surfaceof the current collector 11, the effective area that is used as theelectrode is increased, and the energy efficiency of the bipolar batteryis improved, as compared to the case where there are regions where noelectrode layer is formed, on the current collector 11.

In the embodiment, the thickness of each of the electrode layers 12 and13 continuously varies in the X direction and Y direction of the bipolarelectrode 1. However, the thickness of each of the electrode layers 12and 13 may change in one of the X direction and Y direction. In thiscase, it is possible to suppress the variation in the temperaturedistribution in the bipolar electrode, in the direction in which thethickness of each of the electrode layers 12 and 13 varies.

The thickness of only one of the electrode layers 12 and 13 (i.e., thethickness of the positive electrode layer or the negative electrodelayer) may vary. In this case, the surface of the ion-conductive layer,which contacts the electrode layer whose thickness does not vary, issubstantially flat (taking manufacturing tolerance into account).

Further, although each of the electrode layers 12 and 13 is formed onthe entire surface of the current collector 11 in the embodiment, theremay be regions in which no electrode layer is formed, on the currentcollector 11. More specific description will be made with reference toFIG. 5 and FIG. 6. FIG. 5 shows a front view of a bipolar electrode inthe modified example of the embodiment, and a diagram showing therelation between positions in the bipolar electrode and the thickness ofthe electrode layer. FIG. 6 is a lateral view of a bipolar battery inwhich the bipolar electrodes in the modified example are used.

As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, a positive electrode layer 22 and anegative electrode layer 23 are formed in each of three regions on thecurrent collector 21. There are regions where no electrode layer isformed, between adjacent electrode layers 22, and between adjacentelectrode layers 23, in the X direction in FIG. 5. The regions where noelectrode layer is formed are positioned in the center portion of abipolar electrode 2.

In a first positive electrode layer 22 a positioned in the centerportion of the bipolar electrode 2, the thickness is smallest in thecenter portion, and the thickness continuously increases toward eachouter portion of the bipolar electrode 2. In a second positive electrodelayer 22 b, the thickness is smallest in an end portion positioned inthe center portion of the bipolar electrode 2 (in other words, an endportion positioned close to the first electrode layer 22 a). However,the thickness of the end portion of the second positive electrode layer22 b is larger than the thickness of the end portion of the firstpositive layer 22 a. The thickness of the second positive layer 22 bcontinuously increases from the end portion toward the outer portion ofthe bipolar electrode 2.

A third positive electrode layer 22 c has the same configuration as thatof the second positive electrode layer 22 b. That is, in the thirdpositive electrode layer 22 c, the thickness is smallest in an endportion positioned in the center portion of the bipolar electrode 2 (inother words, an end portion positioned close to the first positiveelectrode layer 22 a). However, the thickness of the end portion of thethird positive electrode layer 22 c is larger than the end portion ofthe first positive electrode layer 22 a. The thickness of the thirdpositive electrode layer 22 c continuously increases from the endportion toward the outer portion of the bipolar electrode 2.

The density of the active material is substantially uniform in thepositive electrode layers 22 a to 22 c.

The negative electrode layers 23 have the same configurations as thoseof the positive electrode layers 22. The negative electrode layers 23include a first negative electrode layer 23 a that faces the firstpositive layer 22 a, and a second negative electrode layer 23 b and athird negative electrode layer 23 c that face the second positiveelectrode layer 22 b and the third positive electrode layer 22 c. Thedensity of the active material is substantially uniform in the negativeelectrode layers 23 a to 23 c.

The ion-conductive layers 24 are formed in regions that face the regionswhere the electrode layers 22 and 23 are formed. The ion-conductivelayers 24 include a first ion-conductive layer 24 a positioned betweenthe first positive electrode layer 22 a and the first negative electrodelayer 23 a, a second ion-conductive layer 24 b positioned between thesecond positive electrode layer 22 b and the second negative electrodelayer 23 b, and a third ion-conductive layer 24 c positioned between thethird positive electrode layer 22 c and the third negative electrodelayer 23 c.

The thickness of each of the ion-conductive layers 24 a to 24 c variesaccording to the thickness of each of the electrode layers 22 a to 22 c,and 23 a to 23 c such that the intervals between the adjacent currentcollectors 21 in the stacking direction are substantially uniform.

In the embodiment, on the current collector 21, there are regions(spaces) where the electrode layers 22 and 23 and the ion-conductivelayer 24 are not formed. Thus, heat generated in the bipolar electrode 2is radiated to the outside through the regions. Because the temperatureis highest particularly in the center portion of the bipolar electrode2, the heat in the bipolar electrode 2 is efficiently radiated, byproviding the regions where the electrode layers 22 and 23 are notformed, in the center portion of the bipolar electrode 2.

Also, because the thickness of each of the electrode layers 22 a to 22 cand 23 a to 23 c varies, the variation in the temperature in each of theelectrode layers 22 a to 22 c and 23 a to 23 c is suppressed. Further,because the thickness of the entire electrode layers 22 and thethickness of the entire electrode layers 23 vary in the same manner asin the first embodiment, the variation in the temperature in the bipolarelectrode 2 is suppressed.

In the modified example shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the ion-conductivelayers 24 are formed in the regions that face the regions where theelectrode layers 22 and 23 are formed. However, the ion-conductivelayers may be integrally formed (i.e., the single ion-conductive layermay be formed) as in the first embodiment (refer to FIG. 2). With thisconfiguration, it is possible to avoid a situation where the adjacentcurrent collectors 21 in the stacking direction contact each other, andshort circuit occurs.

Also, in the modified example, there are two regions where the electrodelayers 22 and 23 are not formed. However, the invention is not limitedto this configuration. The number of regions where the electrode layers22 and 23 are not formed may be appropriately set.

In the above-described embodiment and the modified example, thethickness of each of the electrode layers 22 and 23 continuously varies.However, the invention is not limited to this configuration. Thethickness of the electrode layer may vary in a stepwise manner. Forexample, the thickness of the electrode layer may vary in the stepwisemanner, along the curve showing the thickness of the electrode layer inFIG. 1. With this configuration, the variation in the temperature in thebipolar electrode is suppressed.

When the thickness of the electrode layer varies in the stepwise manner,the electrode layer may have at least two regions with differentthicknesses. The number of regions with different thicknesses may beappropriately set.

In the above-described embodiment and the modified example, thethickness of the electrode layer varies according to the position in thebipolar electrode. In the bipolar battery in which the bipolarelectrodes are stacked, the thickness of the electrode layer in thebipolar electrode may vary according to the position of the bipolarelectrode in the thickness direction of the battery (i.e., in thedirection in which the bipolar electrodes are stacked).

In the bipolar battery with the stacking structure, the degree of easewith which heat is radiated from the center portion of the bipolarbattery in the stacking direction differs from the degree of ease withwhich heat is radiated from each outer portion of the bipolar battery inthe stacking direction. As a result, the temperature distribution in thebipolar electrode positioned in the center portion of the bipolarbattery in the stacking direction may differ from the temperaturedistribution in the bipolar electrode positioned in each outer portionof the bipolar battery in the stacking direction. Therefore, when thethickness of the electrode layer in the bipolar electrode variesaccording to the position of the bipolar electrode in the stackingdirection, the variation in the temperature in the stacking direction issuppressed.

More specifically, the thickness of each electrode layer may be set suchthat the thickness of the electrode layer in the bipolar electrodepositioned in the center portion of the bipolar battery is smaller thanthe thickness of the electrode layer in the bipolar electrode positionedin each outer portion of the bipolar battery, at positions facing eachother in the stacking direction.

The bipolar electrode according to the embodiment or the modifiedexample may be positioned in the center portion of the bipolar battery,and the conventional bipolar electrode (i.e., the bipolar electrode inwhich the electrode layer has a substantially uniform thickness) may bepositioned in the outer portion of the bipolar battery.

[Second Embodiment]

Next, a bipolar battery according to a second embodiment will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. FIG. 7 shows a front viewof a bipolar electrode used in the bipolar battery according to thesecond embodiment, and diagrams showing the relation between the densityof the active material contained in the electrode layer in the bipolarelectrode, and the positions in the bipolar electrode. FIG. 8 is alateral view (schematic view) of the bipolar battery according to theembodiment.

In the above-described first embodiment, the thickness of the electrodelayer varies in the X direction and Y direction of the bipolarelectrode. In the second embodiment, the electrode layer has asubstantially uniform thickness (when manufacturing tolerance is takeninto account), and the density of the active material contained in theelectrode layer varies. Hereinafter, more specific description will bemade.

In a bipolar electrode 3 according to the embodiment, a positiveelectrode layer (electrode layer) 32 that has a substantially uniformthickness is formed on one surface of a current collector 31. A negativeelectrode layer (electrode layer) 33 that has a substantially uniformthickness is formed on the other surface of the current collector 31. Inthe bipolar battery in which the bipolar electrodes 3 are stacked, anion-conductive layer 34 that has a substantially uniform thickness isdisposed between the positive electrode layer 32 and the negativeelectrode layer 33.

As described in the first embodiment, each of the electrode layers 32and 33 is constituted by the active material, the conductive agent, theadditive agent, and the like, according to whether the electrode layeris the positive electrode layer or the negative electrode layer. In theembodiment, the density of the active material (i.e., the amount of theactive material per unit volume of each of the electrode layers 32 and33) varies according to the position in each of the electrode layers 32and 33.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the density of the activematerial is lowest in the center portion of the bipolar electrode 3, andthe density of the active material continuously increases toward eachouter portion of the bipolar electrode 3 in the X direction and in the Ydirection.

In the embodiment, each of the electrode layers 32 and 33 has asubstantially uniform thickness as shown in FIG. 8. Therefore, becausethe density of the active material varies, the amount of the activematerial in each of the electrode layers 32 and 33 varies. Also, becausethe density of the active material varies, the densities of materials(i.e., the conductive agent and the like) other than the activematerial, which constitute each of the electrode layers 32 and 33, alsovary. That is, in a region of each of the electrode layers 32 and 33,where the density of the active material is low (i.e., a regionpositioned in the center portion of the bipolar electrode 3), thedensities of the conductive agent and the like are relatively high. In aregion of each of the electrode layers 32 and 33, where the density ofthe active material is high (i.e., a region positioned in each outerportion of the bipolar electrode 3), the densities of the conductiveagent and the like are relatively low.

The density of the active material in the center portion of the bipolarelectrode 3 may be zero.

Because the density of the active material varies as described above, acurrent density in the bipolar electrode 3 varies. Thus, because thedensity of the active material in the center portion of the bipolarelectrode 3 is lower than the density of the active material in eachouter portion of the bipolar electrode 3, the current density in thecenter portion of the bipolar electrode 3 is lower than the currentdensity in each outer portion of the bipolar electrode 3. Thissuppresses heat generation in the center portion of the bipolarelectrode 3 caused by charging/discharging of the battery, andsuppresses the variation in the temperature in the bipolar electrode 3.

Also, in the embodiment, because the density of the active materialvaries, each of the single electrode layer 32 and the single electrodelayer 33 is formed on the substantially entire surface of the currentcollector 31. Thus, as compared to the configuration where the pluralsmall cells (electrode layers) are formed on the current collector asdescribed in the publication No. 2005-11660, the effective area that isused as the electrode is increased. Further, as compared to the smallcells described in the publication No. 2005-11660, the area of each ofthe electrode layers 32 and 33 is increased. This suppresses theseparation of each of the electrode layers 32 and 33 from the currentcollector 31.

The curve that shows the distribution of the density of the activematerial in FIG. 7 may be set based on the temperature distributioncurve that shows the temperature distribution in the conventionalbipolar electrode (i.e., the electrode in which the thickness of theelectrode layer is substantially uniform, and the density of the activematerial is substantially uniform), as in the first embodiment.

The particle diameter of the active material may vary so that thedensity of the active material in the electrode layer varies. Thisconfiguration will be more specifically described with reference to FIG.9. FIG. 9 shows a front view of the bipolar electrode used in thebipolar battery according to the embodiment, and diagrams showing thedistribution of the current density and the distribution of the particlediameter of the active material in the electrode layer, according to theposition in the bipolar electrode.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 9, the active material positioned inthe center portion of the bipolar electrode 3 has the largest particlediameter, and the active material positioned in each outer portion ofthe bipolar electrode 3 has the smallest particle diameter. The particlediameter of the active material decreases from the center portion of thebipolar electrode 3 toward each outer portion of the bipolar electrode3.

When the active material with a large particle diameter is used, thecontact area between the particles of the active material (contact areaper unit volume) is small. Also, the contact area between the particlesof the active material and the ion-conductive layer 34 (contact area perunit volume) is small. Thus, in a region where the contact area issmall, a reaction resistance due to charging/discharging of the batteryis large, and the current density is small.

When the active material with a small particle diameter is used, thecontact area between the particles of the active material (contact areaper unit volume) is large, and the contact area between the particles ofthe active material and the ion-conductive layer 34 (contact area perunit volume) is large. Thus, in a region where the contact area islarge, the reaction resistance due to charging/discharging of thebattery is small.

As described above, in the region where the current density is low, heatgeneration caused by charging/discharging of the battery is suppressed.Therefore, because the active material with the large particle diameteris used in the center portion of the bipolar electrode 3, which is theregion where the heat radiation performance is low, the increase in thetemperature due to charging/discharging is suppressed. Thus, it ispossible to suppress the variation in the temperature in the bipolarelectrode 3.

Active material particles with different diameters may be prepared, andselectively used according to the position in the bipolar electrode 3 sothat the particle diameter of the active material varies according tothe position in the bipolar electrode 3. Alternatively, plural activematerial particles with different diameters may be prepared, and themixing ratio between the active material particles with differentdiameters may vary according to the position in the bipolar electrode 3.

In the embodiment, the density of the active material continuouslyvaries. However, the invention is not limited to this configuration. Thedensity of the active material may vary in the stepwise manner. Forexample, the density of the active material may vary in the stepwisemanner, along the curve showing the distribution of the density of theactive material in FIG. 7. The electrode layer may contain the activematerial with at least two different densities.

The density of the active material in each of the electrode layers 32and 33 may vary in one of the X direction and Y direction. In this case,it is possible to suppress the variation in the temperature in thebipolar electrode, in the direction in which the density of the activematerial in each of the electrode layers 32 and 33 varies.

Further, in the embodiment, the density of the active material varies sothat the current density in the bipolar electrode varies. However, theraw material of the active material may vary so that the current densityin the bipolar electrode varies. That is, the raw material of the activematerial used in the center portion of the bipolar electrode may have alarger resistance value than that of the raw material of the activematerial used in each outer portion of the bipolar electrode. In otherwords, the raw material of the active material used in each outerportion of the bipolar electrode may have a smaller resistance valuethan that of the raw material of the active material used in the centerportion of the bipolar electrode.

When the mixture of plural raw materials is used as the active material,the mixing ratio (volume ratio or weight ratio) between the plural rawmaterials may vary. In this case as well, the mixing ratio is set sothat the resistance value in the center portion of the bipolar electrodeis larger than the resistance value in each outer portion of the bipolarelectrode.

As the active material, for example, the mixture of at least two oflithium cobaltate, nickel acid lithium, and lithium manganate may beused.

Thus, when the raw material of the active material varies, or the mixingratio between the plural raw materials that constitute the activematerial varies, the current density in the bipolar electrode varies.This suppresses the variation in the temperature in the bipolarelectrode.

In the embodiment, the positive electrode layer 32 and the negativeelectrode layer 33 have the same configuration. However, one of theelectrode layers 32 and 33 may have the configuration in the embodiment,and the other of the electrode layers 32 and 33 may have the sameconfiguration as that of the conventional electrode layer (i.e., thedensity of the active material may be substantially uniform in the otherof the electrode layers 32 and 33).

In the bipolar battery with the stacking structure, the configuration(for example, the density of the active material) of the electrode layerin the bipolar electrode may vary according to the position of thebipolar electrode in the stacking direction. For example, the density ofthe active material in the electrode layer in each bipolar electrode maybe set such that the density of the active material in the electrodelayer in the bipolar electrode positioned in the center portion of thebipolar battery is lower than the density of the active material in theelectrode layer in the bipolar electrode positioned in each outerportion of the bipolar battery, at positions that face each other in thestacking direction. This suppresses the variation in the temperature inthe stacking direction.

In the bipolar battery with the stacking structure, plural unit cells(power generation elements) are stacked. For example, in theconfiguration shown in FIG. 8, the unit cell is the power generationelement that includes the ion-conductive layer 34 and the electrodelayers 32 and 33.

The configuration where the density of the active material in theelectrode layer in the bipolar electrode 3 varies according to theposition of the bipolar electrode 3 in the stacking direction will bemore specifically described with reference to FIGS. 10A to 10E. FIGS.10A to 10E show the temperature distribution, the distribution of thevoltage, the distribution of the input/output value, and thedistribution of the particle diameter of the active material in theelectrode layer, in the stacking direction of the bipolar battery withthe stacking structure.

In FIG. 10A, a positive terminal 101 and a negative terminal 102, whichare used for charging/discharging, are provided in the ends of thebipolar battery 100 in the stacking direction. The positive terminal 101and the negative terminal 102 are connected to a circuit (not shown)that controls the charging/discharging of the bipolar battery 100.

As shown in FIG. 10B, in the bipolar battery 100 in which the pluralunit cells are stacked, the temperature is not uniform in the stackingdirection. The temperature is highest in the center portion of thebipolar battery 100, and is lowest in each outer portion of the bipolarbattery 100, due to, for example, the heat generation caused bycharging/discharging of the bipolar battery. The heat radiationperformance in the unit cell positioned in the center portion of thebipolar battery 100 is lower than the heat radiation performance in theunit cell positioned in each outer portion of the bipolar battery 100.That is, heat tends to be confined in the unit cell positioned in thecenter portion of the bipolar battery 100.

In this case, if the particle diameter of the active material issubstantially uniform in all the bipolar electrodes 3 in the stackingdirection as in the conventional technology (refer to the dotted line inFIG. 10E), the resistance value is small in the unit cell positioned inthe center portion of the bipolar battery 100 due to the increase in thetemperature. As a result, as shown in the dotted lines in FIGS. 10C and10D, the voltage value and the input/output value vary among the unitcells in the stacking direction.

If the particle diameter of the active material is substantially uniformin all the bipolar electrodes 3 in the stacking direction, theresistance value is substantially uniform in all the unit cells beforethe temperature varies in the stacking direction (in other words, beforethe bipolar battery 100 is used). However, because the temperaturevaries in the stacking direction due to the use of the bipolar battery100 (for example, due to the charging/discharging), the resistance valuevaries in the stacking direction.

As described above, in the configuration shown in FIG. 10A, the particlediameter of the active material in the electrode layer (for example, thepositive electrode layer) in the unit cell (bipolar electrode 3) variesaccording to the position of the unit cell (bipolar electrode 3) in thestacking direction.

More specifically, the particle diameter of the active material in thebipolar electrode 3 positioned in the center portion of the bipolarbattery is largest, and the particle diameter of the active material inthe bipolar electrode 3 positioned in each outer portion of the bipolarbattery is smallest. The particle diameter of the active material in thebipolar electrode 3 gradually decreases from the center portion of thebipolar battery toward each outer portion of the bipolar battery. Theparticle diameter of the active material is substantially uniform ineach bipolar electrode 3 (when manufacturing tolerance is taken intoaccount).

As described above, by increasing the particle diameter of the activematerial in the unit cell, the resistance value in the unit cell isincreased. By decreasing the particle diameter of the active material inthe unit cell, the resistance value in the unit cell is decreased.

Thus, when the resistance value in the unit cell is set in advance tovary according to the position of the unit cell in the stackingdirection, the variation in the resistance value among the unit cells inthe stacking direction is suppressed, even if the temperaturedistribution shown in FIG. 10B occurs due to, for example,charging/discharging of the bipolar battery 100. By suppressing thevariation in the resistance value, the variation in the voltage valueand the variation in the input/output value in the bipolar battery 100are suppressed. For example, as shown by the solid lines in FIGS. 10Cand 10D, the voltage value and the input/output value are madesubstantially uniform.

The distribution of the particle diameter shown in FIG. 10E may be setbased on the temperature distribution in the stacking direction (FIG.10B). That is, by determining in advance the temperature distribution inthe stacking direction caused by, for example, charging/discharging ofthe bipolar battery 100, it is possible to determine the amount ofchange in the voltage in each unit cell due to the change in thetemperature.

The resistance value (the particle diameter of the active material) ineach unit cell may be set based on the amount of change in the voltagein each unit cell. That is, the resistance value (the particle diameterof the active material) in each unit cell may be set to suppress thevariation in the voltage value in the stacking direction after thevoltage in each unit cell changes.

With the configuration shown in FIG. 10A, it is possible to suppress thevariation in the voltage value and the variation in the input/outputvalue among the unit cells in the stacking direction. Therefore, it ispossible to execute a charging/discharging control for all the unitcells in the bipolar battery 100, using the same criteria.

It is known that if, in the secondary battery, the input/output voltageis out of a range from an upper limit voltage to a lower limit voltage,the input/output voltage generally has an adverse effect on batterylife. Therefore, to increase the battery life, charging/discharging isperformed so that the input/output voltage is in the range from theupper limit voltage to the lower limit voltage (a fail-safe). In theembodiment, the charging/discharging control is executed for all theunit cells under the same condition.

Further, because resistance values in all the unit cells in the stackingdirection are set with respect to the resistance value in the unit cellpositioned in the center portion of the bipolar battery, theinput/output value is equivalent to the largest input/output value inthe conventional bipolar battery (shown by the dotted line), as shown inFIG. 10D.

The bipolar electrode in the embodiment may be used in the centerportion of the bipolar battery, and the conventional bipolar electrode(i.e., the electrode in which the density of the active material issubstantially uniform) may be used in the outer portion of the bipolarbattery.

In the embodiment, the thickness of each of the electrode layers 32 and33 is substantially uniform, and the density of the active material ineach of the electrode layers 32 and 33 varies. However, the thickness ofeach of the electrode layers 32 and 33 may vary while the density of theactive material in each of the electrode layers 32 and 33 varies. Inthis case, by appropriately setting the two parameters, that is, thedensity of the active material and the thickness of each of theelectrode layers 32 and 33, the variation in the temperature in thebipolar electrode is suppressed.

The secondary battery (or the capacitor) in each of the first and secondembodiments may be used as an electric storage device for driving amotor in, for example, an electric vehicle (EV), a hybrid vehicle (HEV),or a fuel-cell vehicle (FCV).

In each of the first and second embodiments, the amount of the activematerial in the electrode layer (more specifically, the thickness of theelectrode layer and/or the density of the active material in theelectrode layer) is set to vary, taking into account the heat radiationcharacteristic of the bipolar electrode. However, when the temperaturevaries in the bipolar electrode due to thermal influence from theoutside, the amount of the active material in the electrode layer may beset to vary, taking the thermal influence into account. Hereinafter,more specific description will be made.

For example, in the case where a heat source (for example, an engine ora motor) is disposed close to the bipolar battery, the temperature in aregion of the bipolar battery that is close to the heat source is higherthan the temperature in the other region (in other words, the heatradiation performance deteriorates in the region close to the heatsource) due to the thermal influence from the heat source.

Thus, the amount of the active material in the region of the bipolarelectrode, which is close to the heat source, is made smaller than theamount of the active material in the other region of the bipolarelectrode. This suppresses the variation in the temperature in thebipolar electrode. That is, as in each of the first and secondembodiments, because the amount of the active material varies, thecurrent density varies, and the increase in the temperature in thebipolar electrode is suppressed. As in the configuration shown in FIG.9, the particle diameter of the active material in the electrode layermay vary.

The amount of the active material in the electrode layer may be set,taking into account the temperature distribution characteristic in thebipolar electrode based on the thermal influence from the heat source(the temperature distribution characteristic in the bipolar electrode ispredictable in advance).

For example, in addition to, or instead of the configuration of thebipolar electrode in each of the first and second embodiments, theamount of the active material in the region of the bipolar electrode,which is close to the heat source (i.e., the region in one of the outerportions of the bipolar electrode), may be smaller than the amount ofthe active material in the other region (i.e., the region in the otherof the outer portions of the bipolar electrode). Thus, it is possible tosuppress the variation in the temperature in the bipolar electrode dueto the heat generation caused by charging/discharging of the battery,and the heat generation caused by the thermal influence from theoutside.

When the increase in the temperature is largest (i.e., the heatradiation performance is lowest) in the region of the bipolar electrode,which is close to the heat source, because of the thermal influence fromthe heat source, the amount of the active material in the region closeto the heat source may be smallest.

When a heat source is disposed close to one side of the bipolar batteryin which the plural bipolar electrodes are stacked in each of the firstand second embodiments, at least one bipolar electrode among the pluralbipolar electrodes, which is positioned in the one side of the bipolarbattery that is close to the heat source, is susceptible to the thermalinfluence from the heat source. Accordingly, the configuration of theelectrode layer in the at least one bipolar electrode positioned in theside close to the heat source may differ from the configuration of theelectrode layer(s) in the other bipolar electrode(s) positioned in theside opposite to the heat source.

More specifically, the amount of the active material in at least onebipolar electrode among the plural bipolar electrodes, which ispositioned in the one side close to the heat source (i.e., in one of theoutermost portions of the bipolar battery in the stacking direction) maybe smaller than the amount of the active material in the other bipolarelectrode(s) (for example, the bipolar electrode positioned in the otherof the outermost portions of the bipolar battery in the stackingdirection). That is, the amount of the active material in at least onebipolar electrode among the plural bipolar electrodes may differ fromthe amount of the active material in the other bipolar electrode(s), inregions that face each other in the stacking direction. Also, as in theconfiguration shown in FIG. 10A, the particle diameter of the activematerial in the electrode layer in the bipolar electrode may varyaccording to the position of the bipolar electrode in the stackingdirection.

When the amount of the active material in the bipolar electrode variesaccording to the position of the bipolar electrode in the stackingdirection, for example, the amount of the active material in the bipolarelectrode positioned in the center portion of the bipolar battery in thestacking direction, and the amount of the active material in the bipolarelectrode positioned in the outermost portion of the bipolar batterythat is close to the heat source may be smaller than the amount of theactive material in the other bipolar electrode. With this configuration,even when the bipolar battery receives the thermal influence from theheat source, the variation in the temperature in the stacking directionis suppressed.

When the temperature is highest (in other words, the heat radiationperformance is lowest) in the bipolar electrode positioned in theoutermost portion of the bipolar battery that is close to the heatsource, the amount of the active material in this bipolar electrode maybe smallest.

In the configuration where the amount of the active material in thebipolar electrode varies according to the position of the bipolarelectrode in the stacking direction, the bipolar electrode(s) in thefirst embodiment and/or the bipolar electrode in the second embodimentmay be used, and/or the conventional bipolar electrode(s) (i.e., theelectrode(s) in which the amount of the active material in the electrodelayer is substantially uniform) may be used.

As in the first and second embodiments, the thickness of the electrodelayer varies so that the amount of the active material varies (refer toFIG. 1), or the density of the active material per unit volume of theelectrode layer varies so that the amount of the active material varies(refer to FIG. 7). The raw material of the active material may vary, orthe mixing ratio between the plural raw materials that constitute theactive material may vary.

In each of the first and second embodiments, the amount of the activematerial varies to suppress the variation in the temperature in thebipolar electrode. However, the amount of the conductive agent containedin the electrode layer may vary to suppress the variation in thetemperature in the bipolar electrode.

The configuration in which the density of the conductive agent in theelectrode layer (the amount of the conductive agent per unit volume ofthe electrode layer) varies will be more specifically described withreference to FIG. 11. FIG. 11 shows a front view of the bipolarelectrode used in the bipolar battery, and diagrams showing thedistribution of the current density and the distribution of the densityof the conductive agent according to the position in the bipolarelectrode.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 11, the density of the conductiveagent is lowest in the region of the electrode layer, which ispositioned in the center portion of the bipolar electrode 3. The densityof the conductive agent is highest in the region of the electrode layer,which is positioned in each outer portion of the bipolar electrode 3.The density of the conductive agent increases from the center portion ofthe bipolar electrode 3 toward each outer portion of the bipolarelectrode 3.

The conductive agent is used to improve electron conductivity.Therefore, by decreasing the density of the conductive agent, theresistance (i.e., so-called electron resistance) in the electrode layeris increased. By increasing the density of the conductive agent, theresistance in the electrode layer is decreased. By increasing theresistance, the current density is decreased.

As described above, the heat generation caused by charging/dischargingof the battery is suppressed in the region where the current density islow. Therefore, when the density of the conductive agent is low in theregion of the electrode layer, which is positioned in the center portionof the bipolar electrode 3 where the heat radiation performance is low,the increase in the temperature due to charging/discharging issuppressed. Thus, the variation in the temperature in the bipolarelectrode 3 is suppressed.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 11, the density of the conductiveagent in the electrode layer continuously varies. However, the inventionis not limited to this configuration. The density of the conductiveagent may vary in a stepwise manner. In this case as well, the densityof the conductive agent in the region of the electrode layer, which ispositioned in the center portion of the bipolar electrode, may be madelower than the density of the conductive agent in the region of theelectrode layer, which is positioned in each outer portion of thebipolar electrode. In FIG. 11, the density of the conductive agentvaries in the X direction and Y direction. However, the density of theconductive agent may vary in one of the X direction and Y direction. Inthis case, the variation in the temperature is suppressed in thedirection in which the density of the conductive agent varies.

The configuration shown in FIG. 11 is made taking into account the heatradiation performance of the battery. However, when the temperaturevaries in the bipolar electrode due to the thermal influence on thebattery from the outside (for example, the heat source), the density ofthe conductive agent in the electrode layer may be set to vary, takingthe thermal influence into account, as in the described cases. Forexample, when the temperature is highest in the region of the bipolarelectrode 3, which is close to the heat source, the density of theconductive agent in this region of the bipolar electrode 3 may besmaller than the density of the conductive agent in the other region ofthe bipolar electrode 3.

In the bipolar battery with the stacking structure, the density of theconductive agent in the electrode layer in the bipolar electrode mayvary according to the position of the bipolar electrode in the stackingdirection.

The configuration in which the density of the conductive agent in thebipolar electrode varies according to the position of the bipolarelectrode in the stacking direction will be more specifically describedwith reference to FIGS. 12A to 12E. FIGS. 12A to 12E show thetemperature distribution, the distribution of the voltage, thedistribution of the input/output value, and the distribution of thedensity of the conductive agent in the electrode layer, in the stackingdirection of the bipolar battery with the stacking structure.

In FIG. 12A, the positive terminal 101 and the negative terminal 102,which are used for charging/discharging, are provided in the ends of thebipolar battery 100 in the stacking direction. The positive terminal 101and the negative terminal 102 are connected to the circuit (not shown)that controls the charging/discharging of the bipolar battery 100.

As shown in FIG. 12B, in the bipolar battery 100 in which the pluralunit cells are stacked, the temperature is not uniform in the stackingdirection. The temperature may be highest in the center portion of thebipolar battery 100, and may be lowest in each outer portion of thebipolar battery 100.

In this case, if the density of the conductive agent in the electrodelayer is substantially uniform in all the bipolar electrodes 3 in thestacking direction as in the conventional technology (refer to thedotted line in FIG. 12E), the resistance value is small in the unit cellpositioned in the center portion of the bipolar battery 100 due to theincrease in the temperature caused by, for example,charging/discharging. As a result, as shown in the dotted lines in FIGS.12C and 12D, the voltage value and the input/output value vary among theunit cells in the stacking direction.

If the density of the conductive agent in the electrode layer issubstantially uniform in all the bipolar electrodes 3 in the stackingdirection, the resistance value is substantially uniform in all the unitcells before the temperature varies in the stacking direction (in otherwords, before the bipolar battery 100 is used). However, because thetemperature varies in the stacking direction due to the use of thebipolar battery 100 (for example, due to the charging/discharging), theresistance value in the unit cell varies according to the position ofthe unit cell in the stacking direction.

As described above, in the configuration shown in FIG. 12A, the densityof the conductive agent in the electrode layer in the unit cell (bipolarelectrode) varies according to the position of the unit cell (bipolarelectrode) in the stacking direction.

More specifically, the density of the conductive agent in the electrodelayer in the bipolar electrode positioned in the center portion of thebipolar battery is lowest, and the density of the conductive agent inthe electrode layer in the bipolar electrode positioned in each outerportion of the bipolar battery is highest. The density of the conductiveagent in the electrode layer in the bipolar electrode increases from thecenter portion of the bipolar battery toward each outer portion of thebipolar battery.

The density of the conductive agent in the electrode layer issubstantially uniform in each bipolar electrode (when manufacturingtolerance is taken into account). In addition to the configuration shownin FIG. 12A, the electrode layer in each bipolar electrode may haveconfiguration shown in FIG. 11.

As described above, by decreasing the density of the conductive agent inthe electrode layer in the unit cell, the resistance value in the unitcell is increased. By increasing the density of the conductive agent inthe electrode layer in the unit cell, the resistance value in the unitcell is decreased.

Thus, when the resistance value in the unit cell is set in advance tovary according to the position of the unit cell in the stackingdirection as in the configuration shown in FIG. 12A, it is possible tosuppress the variation in the resistance value in the unit cellaccording to the position of the unit cell in the stacking direction,even if the temperature distribution shown in FIG. 12B occurs due to,for example, charging/discharging of the bipolar battery 100. Bysuppressing the variation in the resistance value, the variation in thevoltage value and the variation in the input/output value in the bipolarbattery 100 are suppressed. For example, as shown by the solid lineFIGS. 12C and 12D, the voltage value and the input/output value are madesubstantially uniform.

The density distribution shown in FIG. 12E may be set based on thetemperature distribution in the stacking direction (FIG. 12B). That is,by determining in advance the temperature distribution in the stackingdirection caused by, for example, charging/discharging of the bipolarbattery 100, it is possible to determine the amount of change in thevoltage in each unit cell due to the change in the temperature.

The resistance value (the density of the conductive agent in theelectrode layer) in each unit cell may be set based on the amount ofchange in the voltage in each unit cell. That is, the resistance value(the density of the conductive agent in the electrode layer) in eachunit cell may be set to suppress the variation in the voltage value inthe stacking direction after the voltage in each unit cell changes.

With the configuration shown in FIG. 12A, it is possible to suppress thevariation in the voltage value and the variation in the input/outputvalue among the unit cells in the stacking direction. Therefore, it ispossible to execute the charging/discharging control for all the unitcells in the bipolar battery 100, using the same criteria.

It is known that if, in the secondary battery, the input/output voltageis out of the range from the upper limit voltage to the lower limitvoltage, the input/output voltage generally has an adverse effect onbattery life. Therefore, to increase the battery life,charging/discharging is performed so that the input/output voltage is inthe range from the upper limit voltage to the lower limit voltage (thefail safe). In the embodiment, the charging/discharging control isexecuted for all the unit cells under the same condition.

Further, because resistance values in all the unit cells in the stackingdirection are set with respect to the resistance value in the unit cellpositioned in the center portion of the bipolar battery, theinput/output value is equivalent to the largest input/output value inthe conventional bipolar battery (shown by the dotted line), as shown inFIG. 12D.

The configuration shown in FIG. 12A is made taking into account the heatradiation performance of the bipolar battery with the stackingstructure. However, when the temperature varies in the stackingdirection of the bipolar battery due to the thermal influence on thebipolar battery from the outside (for example, the heat source), thedensity of the conductive agent in the electrode layer in the bipolarelectrode may be set to vary according to the position of the bipolarelectrode in the stacking direction, taking the thermal influence intoaccount, as in the described cases. For example, when the temperature ishighest in the unit cell close to the heat source, the density of theconductive agent in the electrode layer in this unit cell may be smallerthan the density of the conductive agent in the electrode layer in anyother unit cell.

When the amount of the active material is substantially uniform in theentire electrode layer, and only the amount of the conductive agent inthe electrode layer varies, part of the active material may not be usedfor charging/discharging of the battery. That is, in a region where theamount of the conductive agent is smaller than the amount of theconductive agent in the other region, there may be a large amount of theactive material that is not used for charging/discharging of thebattery.

Ordinarily, the raw material used as the active material is relativelyexpensive. Therefore, it is not undesirable that part of the activematerial should not be used. Accordingly, it is preferable that theamount of the active material should also vary when the amount of theconductive agent varies. Thus, the active material is efficiently used.This avoids a situation where the cost of the bipolar electrodeincreases because part of the active material contained in the bipolarelectrode is not used.

In each of the first and second embodiments, the amount of the activematerial varies to suppress the variation in the temperature in thebipolar electrode. However, the configuration of the solid electrolytecontained in the electrode layer in the bipolar electrode may vary tosuppress the variation in the temperature in the bipolar electrode. Morespecifically, the density of the solid electrolyte in the electrodelayer may vary. When the electrode layer contains plural solidelectrolytes made of raw materials different from each other, the mixingratio between the plural solid electrolytes may vary.

The configuration in which the density of the solid electrolyte in theelectrode layer (i.e., the amount of the solid electrolyte per unitvolume) varies will be more specifically described with reference toFIG. 13. FIG. 13 shows a front view of the bipolar electrode used in thebipolar battery, and diagrams showing the distribution of the currentdensity and the distribution of the density of the solid electrolyte inthe electrode layer, according to the position in the bipolar electrode.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 13, the density of the solidelectrolyte is lowest in the region of the electrode layer, which ispositioned in the center portion of the bipolar electrode 3. Also, thedensity of the solid electrolyte is highest in the region of theelectrode layer, which is positioned in each outer portion of thebipolar electrode 3. The density of the solid electrolyte increases fromthe center portion of the bipolar electrode 3 toward each outer portionof the bipolar electrode 3.

By decreasing the density of the solid electrolyte in the electrodelayer, the ion conductivity in the electrode layer is decreased. Byincreasing the density of the solid electrolyte in the electrode layer,the ion conductivity in the electrode layer is increased. By decreasingthe ion conductivity, the current density is decreased.

As described above, the heat generation caused by charging/dischargingof the battery is suppressed in the region where the current density islow. Therefore, by decreasing the density of the solid electrolyte inthe region of the electrode layer, which is positioned in the centerportion of the bipolar electrode 3 where the heat radiation performanceis low, the increase in the temperature due to charging/discharging issuppressed. Thus, the variation in the temperature in the bipolarelectrode 3 is suppressed.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 13, the density of the solidelectrolyte in the electrode layer continuously varies. However, theinvention is not limited to this configuration. The density of the solidelectrolyte may vary in the stepwise manner. In this case as well, thedensity of the solid electrolyte in the region of the electrode layer,which is positioned in the center portion of the bipolar electrode, islower than the density of the solid electrolyte in the region of theelectrode layer, which is positioned in each outer portion of thebipolar electrode. In the configuration shown in FIG. 13, the density ofthe solid electrolyte in the electrode layer varies in the X directionand Y direction. However, the density of the solid electrolyte in theelectrode layer may vary in one direction. In this case, the variationin the temperature is suppressed in the direction where the density ofthe solid electrolyte varies.

The configuration shown in FIG. 13 is made taking into account the heatradiation performance of the battery. However, when the temperaturevaries in the bipolar electrode due to the thermal influence on thebattery from the outside (for example, the heat source), the density ofthe solid electrolyte in the electrode layer may be set to vary, takingthe thermal influence into account, as in the described cases. Forexample, when the temperature is highest in the region of the bipolarelectrode 3, which is close to the heat source, the density of the solidelectrolyte in this region of the bipolar electrode 3 may be smallerthan the density of solid electrolyte in the other region of the bipolarelectrode 3.

When plural different types of solid electrolytes (plural solidelectrolytes made of raw materials different from each other) arecontained in the electrode layer in the bipolar electrode 3, the pluraldifferent types of solid electrolytes may be selectively used, or themixing ratio between the plural solid electrolytes may be changed,according to the position in the bipolar electrode. Thus, the ionconductivity varies. In this case, the plural solid electrolytes may beselectively used, or the mixing ratio between the plural solidelectrolytes may be changed so that the ion conductivity is lowest inthe center portion of the bipolar electrode 3, and highest in each outerportion of the bipolar electrode 3.

Examples of the raw material of the solid electrolyte and the ionconductivity include Li₂O—B₂O₃; 10⁻⁷ [S/cm], Li₂O₂—SiO₂; 10⁻⁶ [S/cm],Li₂S—GeS₄; 10⁻⁵ [S/cm], Li₂S—P₂S₅; 10⁻⁴ [S/cm], and LiI—Li₂S—P₂S₅; 10⁻³[S/cm]. By selectively using the raw materials, or changing the mixingratio between the raw materials, according to the position in thebipolar electrode, the ion conductivity in the bipolar electrode variesas required.

When a coating is provided on the surface of each solid electrolyteparticle, the ion conductivity is increased/decreased by changing theraw material of the coating. When the different types of solidelectrolyte particles (i.e., the solid electrolyte particles on whichcoatings made of raw materials different from each other are provided)are used, the different types of solid electrolyte particles may beselectively used, or the mixing ratio between the different types (atleast two types) of solid electrolyte particles may vary, according tothe position in the bipolar electrode 3.

In the bipolar battery with the stacking structure, the configuration ofthe solid electrolyte in the electrode layer in the bipolar electrodemay vary according to the position of the bipolar electrode in thestacking direction. More specifically, the density of the solidelectrolyte in the electrode layer may vary. Alternatively, when theelectrode layer contains plural solid electrolytes made of raw materialsdifferent from each other, the mixing ratio between the plural solidelectrolytes may vary.

The configuration in which the density of the solid electrolyte in theelectrode layer in the bipolar electrode 3 varies according to theposition of the bipolar electrode 3 in the stacking direction will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 14A to 14E. FIGS. 14A to 14E show thetemperature distribution, the distribution of the voltage, thedistribution of the input/output value, and the distribution of thedensity of the solid electrolyte in the electrode layer in the bipolarelectrode, in the stacking direction of the bipolar battery with thestacking structure.

In FIG. 14A, the positive terminal 101 and the negative terminal 102,which are used for charging/discharging, are provided in the ends of thebipolar battery 100 in the stacking direction. The positive terminal 101and the negative terminal 102 are connected to the circuit (not shown)that controls the charging/discharging of the bipolar battery 100.

As shown in FIG. 14B, in the bipolar battery 100 in which the pluralunit cells are stacked, the temperature is not uniform in the stackingdirection. The temperature may be highest in the center portion of thebipolar battery 100, and may be lowest in each outer portion of thebipolar battery 100.

In this case, if the density of the solid electrolyte in the electrodelayer is substantially uniform in all the bipolar electrodes 3 in thestacking direction as in the conventional technology (refer to thedotted line in FIG. 14E), the resistance value is small in the unit cellpositioned in the center portion of the bipolar battery 100 due to theincrease in the temperature. As a result, as shown by the dotted linesin FIGS. 14C and 14D, the voltage value and the input/output value varyamong the unit cells in the stacking direction.

If the density of the solid electrolyte in the electrode layer issubstantially uniform in all the bipolar electrodes in the stackingdirection, the resistance value is substantially uniform in all the unitcells before the temperature varies in the stacking direction (in otherwords, before the bipolar battery 100 is used). However, because thetemperature varies in the stacking direction due to the use of thebipolar battery 100 (for example, due to the charging/discharging), theresistance value in the unit cell varies according to the position ofthe unit cell in the stacking direction.

As described above, in the embodiment, the density of the solidelectrolyte in the electrode layer in the unit cell (bipolar electrode)varies according to the position of the unit cell (bipolar electrode) inthe stacking direction.

More specifically, the density of the solid electrolyte in the electrodelayer in the bipolar electrode positioned in the center portion of thebipolar battery is lowest, and the density of the solid electrolyte inthe electrode layer in the bipolar electrode positioned in each outerportion of the bipolar battery is highest. The density of the solidelectrolyte in the electrode layer in the bipolar electrode increasesfrom the center portion of the bipolar battery toward each outer portionof the bipolar battery.

The density of the solid electrolyte in the electrode layer issubstantially uniform in each bipolar electrode (when manufacturingtolerance is taken into account). In addition to the configuration shownin FIG. 14A, the electrode layer in each bipolar electrode may have theconfiguration shown in FIG. 13.

As described above, by decreasing the density of the solid electrolytein the electrode layer, the ion conductivity in the electrode layer isdecreased. By increasing the density of the solid electrolyte in theelectrode layer, the ion conductivity in the electrode layer isincreased.

Thus, when the ion conductivity in the electrode layer in the bipolarelectrode is set in advance to vary according to the position of thebipolar electrode in the stacking direction, the variation in theresistance value among the unit cells in the stacking direction issuppressed, even if the temperature distribution shown in FIG. 14Boccurs due to, for example, charging/discharging of the bipolar battery100. By suppressing the variation in the resistance value, the variationin the voltage value and the variation in the input/output value in thebipolar battery 100 are suppressed. For example, as shown by the solidlines FIGS. 14C and 14D, the voltage value and the input/output valueare made substantially uniform.

The density distribution shown in FIG. 14E may be set based on thetemperature distribution in the stacking direction (FIG. 14B). That is,by determining in advance the temperature distribution in the stackingdirection caused by, for example, charging/discharging of the bipolarbattery 100, it is possible to determine the amount of change in thevoltage in each unit cell due to the change in the temperature.

The resistance value in each unit cell (the ion conductivity in theelectrode layer in each bipolar electrode) may be set based on theamount of change in the voltage in each unit cell. That is, theresistance value in each unit cell (the ion conductivity in theelectrode layer in each bipolar electrode) may be set to suppress thevariation in the voltage value in the stacking direction after thevoltage in each unit cell changes.

With the configuration shown in FIG. 14A, it is possible to suppress thevariation in the voltage value and the variation in the input/outputvalue among the unit cells in the stacking direction. Therefore, it ispossible to execute the charging/discharging control for all the unitcells in the bipolar battery 100, using the same criteria.

It is known that if, in the secondary battery, the input/output voltageis out of the range from the upper limit voltage to the lower limitvoltage, the input/output voltage generally has an adverse effect onbattery life. Therefore, to increase the battery life,charging/discharging is performed so that the input/output voltage is inthe range from the upper limit voltage to the lower limit voltage (thefail safe). In the embodiment, the charging/discharging control isexecuted for all the unit cells under the same condition.

Further, because resistance values in all the unit cells in the stackingdirection are set with respect to the resistance value in the unit cellpositioned in the center portion of the bipolar battery, theinput/output value is equivalent to the largest input/output value inthe conventional bipolar battery (shown by the dotted line), as shown inFIG. 14D.

The configuration shown in FIG. 14A is made taking into account the heatradiation performance of the bipolar battery with the stackingstructure. However, when the temperature varies in the stackingdirection of the bipolar battery due to the thermal influence on thebipolar battery from the outside (for example, the heat source), thedensity of the solid electrolyte (or the mixing ratio between the pluraltypes of solid electrolytes) in the electrode layer in the bipolarelectrode may be set to vary according to the position of the bipolarelectrode in the stacking direction, taking the thermal influence intoaccount, as in the described cases. For example, the density of thesolid electrolyte in the electrode layer in the bipolar electrode closeto the heat source may be lower than the density of the solidelectrolyte in the electrode layer in the bipolar electrode in the otherposition in the stacking direction.

When plural different types of solid electrolytes (plural solidelectrolytes made of raw materials different from each other) arecontained in the electrode layer in the bipolar electrode, the pluraldifferent types of solid electrolytes may be selectively used, or themixing ratio between the plural solid electrolytes contained in theelectrode layer in the bipolar electrode may be changed, according tothe position of the bipolar electrode in the stacking direction. Thus,the ion conductivity varies in the stacking direction. In this case, allthe regions of the electrode layer in each bipolar electrode may havethe same configuration (i.e., the raw material of the solid electrolyte,or the mixing ratio between the plural solid electrolytes may be uniformin all the regions of the electrode layer in each bipolar electrode).Alternatively, the configuration of the electrode layer (i.e., the rawmaterial of the solid electrolyte, or the mixing ratio between theplural solid electrolytes) may vary according to the position in thebipolar electrode, as in the configuration in FIG. 13.

When the plural types of solid electrolytes are used, the solidelectrolytes made of raw materials different from each other may beselectively used, or the mixing ratio between the plural solidelectrolytes contained in the electrode layer in the bipolar electrodemay be changed so that the ion conductivity in the electrode layer islowest in the bipolar electrode positioned in the center portion of thebipolar battery, and the ion conductivity in the electrode layer ishighest in the bipolar electrode positioned in each outer portion of thebipolar battery.

When a coating is provided on the surface of each solid electrolyteparticle, the ion conductivity is increased or decreased by changing theraw material of the coating. When the different types of solidelectrolyte particles (i.e., the solid electrolyte particles on whichcoatings made of raw materials different from each other are provided)are used, the type of the solid electrolyte particles contained in theelectrode layer in the bipolar electrode may vary, or the mixing ratiobetween the plural types (at least two types) of the solid electrolyteparticles contained in the electrode layer in the bipolar electrode mayvary according to position of the bipolar electrode in the stackingdirection.

1. An electrode used for an electric storage device that includes pluralelectrodes that are stacked such that an ion-conductive layer isdisposed between each pair of the electrodes, comprising: a currentcollector; an electrode layer having a positive electrode layer portionthat contains a positive active material, and a negative electrode layerportion that contains a negative active material, wherein both thepositive and negative electrode layer portions are formed on the currentcollector, wherein a configuration of the electrode layer variesaccording to a position in the electrode layer such that a currentdensity in a first region of the electrode, where heat radiationperformance is lower than the heat radiation performance in a secondregion of the electrode, is lower than the current density in the secondregion of the electrode, wherein a particle diameter of the activematerial in the electrode layer varies according to the position in theelectrode layer, wherein the first region of the electrode is a centerportion of the electrode, and the second region of the electrode is anend portion of the electrode, and wherein the particle diameter of theactive material in a region of the electrode layer, which is positionedin the center portion of the electrode, is larger than the particlediameter of the active material in a region of the electrode layer,which is positioned in the end portion of the electrode.
 2. Theelectrode according to claim 1, wherein an amount of the active materialin the electrode layer varies according to the position in the electrodelayer.
 3. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the amount of theactive material in a region of the electrode layer, which is positionedin the center portion of the electrode, is smaller than the amount ofthe active material in a region of the electrode layer, which ispositioned in the end portion of the electrode.
 4. The electrodeaccording to claim 3, wherein a thickness of a region of the electrodelayer, which is positioned in the center portion of the electrode, issmaller than the thickness of a region of the electrode layer, which ispositioned in the end portion of the electrode.
 5. The electrodeaccording to claim 4, wherein a thickness of the electrode layerdecreases continuously or in a stepwise manner, from the end portion ofthe electrode toward the center portion of the electrode.
 6. Theelectrode according to claim 4, wherein a density of the active materialis substantially uniform in the electrode layer.
 7. The electrodeaccording to claim 3, wherein a density of the active material in aregion of the electrode layer, which is positioned in the center portionof the electrode, is lower than the density of the active material in aregion of the electrode layer, which is positioned in the end portion ofthe electrode.
 8. The electrode according to claim 7, wherein thedensity of the active material decreases continuously or in a stepwisemanner, from the end portion of the electrode toward the center portionof the electrode.
 9. The electrode according to claim 7, wherein theelectrode layer has a substantially uniform thickness.
 10. The electrodeaccording to claim 1, wherein the electrode layer contains a conductiveagent, and a density of the conductive agent in the electrode layervaries according to the position in the electrode layer.
 11. Theelectrode according to claim 10, wherein the first region of theelectrode is a center portion of the electrode, and the second region ofthe electrode is an end portion of the electrode.
 12. The electrodeaccording to claim 11, wherein the density of the conductive agent in aregion of the electrode layer, which is positioned in the center portionof the electrode, is lower than the density of the conductive agent in aregion of the electrode layer, which is positioned in the end portion ofthe electrode.
 13. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein theelectrode layer contains a solid electrolyte, and a density of the solidelectrolyte in the electrode layer varies according to the position inthe electrode layer.
 14. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein thedensity of the solid electrolyte in a region of the electrode layer,which is positioned in the center portion of the electrode, is lowerthan the density of the solid electrolyte in a region of the electrodelayer, which is positioned in the end portion of the electrode.
 15. Theelectrode according to claim 1, wherein the electrode layer containsplural solid electrolytes made of raw materials different from eachother, and a mixing ratio between the plural solid electrolytes in theelectrode layer varies according to the position in the electrode layer.16. The electrode according to claim 15, wherein the plural solidelectrolytes have respective ion conductivities different from eachother.
 17. An electric storage device wherein an electrode is used as atleast one of a positive electrode and a negative electrode, wherein theelectrode comprises: a current collector; and an electrode layer havinga positive electrode layer portion that contains a positive activematerial, and a negative electrode layer portion that contains anegative active material, wherein both the positive and negativeelectrode layer portions are formed on the current collector, wherein aconfiguration of the electrode layer varies according to a position inthe electrode layer such that a current density in a first region of theelectrode, where heat radiation performance is lower than the heatradiation performance in a second region of the electrode, is lower thanthe current density in the second region of the electrode, wherein aparticle diameter of the active material in the electrode layer variesaccording to the position in the electrode layer, wherein the firstregion of the electrode is a center portion of the electrode, and thesecond region of the electrode is an end portion of the electrode, andwherein the particle diameter of the active material in a region of theelectrode layer, which is positioned in the center portion of theelectrode, is larger than the particle diameter of the active materialin a region of the electrode layer, which is positioned in the endportion of the electrode.
 18. An electric storage device comprising: anelectrode, comprising: a current collector; an electrode layer having apositive electrode layer portion that contains a positive activematerial, and a negative electrode layer portion that contains anegative active material, wherein both the positive and negativeelectrode layer portions are formed on the current collector, wherein aconfiguration of the electrode layer varies according to a position inthe electrode layer such that a current density in a first region of theelectrode, where heat radiation performance is lower than the heatradiation performance in a second region of the electrode, is lower thanthe current density in the second region of the electrode, wherein aparticle diameter of the active material in the electrode layer variesaccording to the position in the electrode layer, wherein the firstregion of the electrode is a center portion of the electrode, and thesecond region of the electrode is an end portion of the electrode, andwherein the particle diameter of the active material in a region of theelectrode layer, which is positioned in the center portion of theelectrode, is larger than the particle diameter of the active materialin a region of the electrode layer, which is positioned in the endportion of the electrode; and an ion-conductive layer that contacts theelectrode, wherein a thickness of a region of the ion-conductive layer,which faces the center portion of the electrode, is larger than thethickness of a region of the ion-conductive layer, which faces the endportion of the electrode.
 19. An electric storage device which includesplural electrodes and plural ion-conductive layers that are stacked suchthat each of the plural ion-conductive layers is disposed between a pairof electrodes among the plural electrodes, wherein: each of the pluralelectrodes includes a current collector, and an electrode layer having apositive electrode layer portion that contains a positive activematerial and a negative electrode layer portion that contains a negativeactive material, wherein both the positive and negative electrode layerportions are formed on the current collector; a first electrode amongthe plural electrodes is disposed in a position where heat radiationperformance is lower than the heat radiation performance in a positionwhere a second electrode among the plural electrodes is disposed, in astacking direction in which the plural electrodes are stacked in theelectric storage device; and a configuration of the electrode layer inthe first electrode differs from a configuration of the electrode layerin the second electrode such that a resistance value in the firstelectrode is larger than the resistance value in the second electrode,wherein a particle diameter of the active material in the electrodelayer varies according to the position in the electrode layer, whereinthe first electrode is positioned in a center portion of the electricstorage device in the stacking direction, and the second electrode iscloser to an end of the electric storage device in the stackingdirection than the first electrode, and wherein the particle diameter ofthe active material in a region of the electrode layer, which ispositioned in the center portion of the electrode, is larger than theparticle diameter of the active material in a region of the electrodelayer, which is positioned in the end portion of the electrode.
 20. Theelectric storage device according to claim 19, wherein the electrodelayer in each of the plural electrodes contains a conductive agent, anda density of the conductive agent in the electrode layer in the firstelectrode is lower than the density of the conductive agent in theelectrode layer in the second electrode.
 21. The electric storage deviceaccording to claim 19, wherein the electrode layer in each of the pluralelectrodes contains a solid electrolyte, and a density of the solidelectrolyte in the electrode layer in the first electrode is lower thanthe density of the solid electrolyte in the electrode layer in thesecond electrode.
 22. The electric storage device according to claim 19,wherein the electrode layer in each of the plural electrodes contains asolid electrolyte, and a raw material of the solid electrolyte in theelectrode layer in the first electrode differs from the raw material ofthe solid electrolyte in the electrode layer in the second electrode.23. The electric storage device according to claim 19, wherein theelectrode layer in each of the plural electrodes contains plural solidelectrolytes made of raw materials different from each other, and amixing ratio between the plural solid electrolytes in the electrodelayer in the first electrode differs from the mixing ratio between theplural solid electrolytes in the electrode layer in the secondelectrode.
 24. The electric storage device according to claim 21,wherein an ion conductivity in the electrode layer in the firstelectrode is lower than the ion conductivity in the electrode layer inthe second electrode.
 25. The electric storage device according to claim19, wherein a thickness of the electrode layer in the first electrode issmaller than the thickness of the electrode layer in the secondelectrode.
 26. The electric storage device according to claim 19,wherein the position where the first electrode is disposed includes aposition where the heat radiation performance is decreased by a heatsource disposed outside of the electric storage device.
 27. The electricstorage device according to claim 22, wherein an ion conductivity in theelectrode layer in the first electrode is lower than the ionconductivity in the electrode layer in the second electrode.
 28. Thestorage device according to claim 23, wherein an ion conductivity in theelectrode layer in the first electrode is lower than the ionconductivity in the electrode in the second electrode.